Mark, a streetwise eleven-year-old, and his younger brother, Ricky, witness the suicide of New Orleans mafia lawyer, Jerome Clifford. Mark and Ricky flee the scene, but the trauma of the experience sends Ricky into severe shock. Just before Clifford shoots himself, he spills a big mob secret to Mark. Clifford tells Mark the location of Senator Boyette's body, a piece of information the FBI has been desperately trying to uncover, because Senator Boyette was murdered by the notorious mafia man, Barry Muldanno. The FBI and mafia soon learn that Mark knows the location of the senator's body. Mark realizes that if he tells the FBI what he knows, the mafia will be after him and will not stop until they kill him. Mark has seen enough movies to know that the mafia never forgets.

Realizing that he is in over his head, Mark hires a lawyer, Reggie Love, a tough woman but with a soft spot for overlooked and abused children. Reggie fights for Mark's right to keep silent, although she cannot keep him from being jailed for contempt. When the mafia threats begin to feel too real for Reggie's liking, she changes her strategy and begins to urge Mark to cooperate with the FBI.

Mark comes up with a crazy plan that begins with his escape from jail. Reggie reluctantly goes along for the dangerous adventure that takes the pair into Clifford's garage, where they come face to face with the dead senator's body. As the situation becomes more deadly, Mark finally gives in and decides to make a deal with the FBI. Reggie drafts the deal, which includes the witness protection program for Mark and his family in addition to many perks. Reggie and Mark say a tearful goodbye. Mark and his family fly away in a plane on the way to their new home, and with their new identities. Only then, does Reggie finally tell the FBI the location of Senator Boyette's corpse.